greek and roman death and burial Flashcards
what is prothesis?
during the preparation of the body in the greek world, the deceased would be laid out for 2 days to receive mourners
what does it mean to lament?
a passionate expression of greif or sorrow
what is an ekphora?
the funeral procession = in ancient greecew
what si the krameikos?
an areea of Athens that included the main burial ground outside the city
what was so important to the greeks?
death was particulaerly important. Regardless of social status or wealth, they recieved a proper burial and were treated with respect
what happened in greece once someoone had died? Preparation!
- eyes and mouth closed
- body washed, parfumed, and wrapped in a long white shroud
- a coin would be placed in the deceased’s mouth. ( for Charon)
what happened after the body was prepares in ancient greece?
- a prothesis, or laying out took plce. This lasted 2 days and gave the friends and fmaily a chance to pay respoects
- a death was polluting, so a bowl of watr was left out side so people could wash themselves
- women lament - the cut their hair, wear shabby black clothing, waiil beside the deceased, beat chests, wave arms
when was the funery procession? (greecd)
before dawn on the 3rd day
what was the funery procession? (Greece)
ekphora - walk from house to burial ground
Depending on the wealth of the family, and the distance traveled this would be done either by carrying or using a wagon or carried by pallbearers
It included the entire family
where was the burial place of the body and why (Greece)?
it was vital that the final resting place of the deceased was outside of the body to remove the chance of religious pollution. It was also there to reduce the spread of any disease
what was the name of the main burial ground outside of the city? (Greece)
Keramaikos - an area outside the nortthwest wasllls of the citry
how was the body buried (ie.g., cremation, body?) (Greece)
either buried or cremated. Ina cremation, a pyre would be built and the deceased placed on top. It would then be lit. After the body had burned, the ash would be collected in an urn and given to the family. Thius would be then poalced into a shrine or grave
what would the family do to assist the deceased in their journey to the underworld? (Greece)
coin for charon
burial gifts e.g., an item that was important to the deceased in life or food for their journey
who is charon?
the boatman who ferried the dead from the land of the living to the underworld
what woudl eb set up for the deceased by the family? depending on wealth (Greece)
stele - tone slaps often with patterns carved on them most ocmmonly used as tomb stones
they may have paid a sculptor to carve something in relief that eefelcted the deceased in life - a commemoration of deceased and display of welath and styatus
what was the final thing to take place after the burial? (Greece)
the sacrifice
how did the burial sacrifice differ from the normal file? (Greece)
the blood of the victim in the sacrifice woudl be released on the earth as an offering to Persephone and Hades
how did the Greeks maintain respect for the Greeks?
once the deceased had been buried, a period of mourning began that lasted for 30 days. There were 3 days in which the family were obliged to visit the deceased.
the third day, 9th, 13th
then the family would visit the grave on an annual basis
what is Anthesteria?
a Greek festival to Dionysus and the dead held over 3 days in late January or early February
what is Genesia?
a Greek festival to the ancestors celebrated in late September
what was the Anthestria? WHat did it celebrate? Who?
It took place in late January and lasted 3 days. it celebrated the maturing of wine and was held in honour of Dionysus.
on the first day it was believed to be a day when the dead rose from the underworld and roamed the earth. During the day, the wine from the previous year was opened and libations were poured to Dionysus.
On the second day, groups would gather for drinking contests and families would pour libations on the graves of their ancestors.
The final day was dedicated to the dead - families woudl make offerings to the God Hermes, as he was the only god, along with Dionysus, who could travel into the underworld. Unlike normal offerings, the living were allowed to eat any food.
The ceremony marked the period that the dead had to leave Atherns and return to the uncderworld
what is another rgreek festival celebrating the dead?
genesia
when was genesi, what did it celebratw?
it took place in late September. During the day, the Athenians would decorate the graves od the deceased with ribbons and offer food and blood sacrifice in honour of all their dead ancestors
wherre did the ROmans place their dead?
outside the city - remove religous pollution and reduce risk of disease + remove religiour pollution. In roman towns, they wealthy buried in the tombs along the roads that eld into the city or town, which allowed passers- by to pay their respects
what is a funeral club?
a social club set up to support the less wealthy members of Roman society
what happened with the funerary clubs?
they woudl oay a monthly fee. they met for meals, gathering, giving members an oppurtunity of making social connections. The workers witht eh same trade woudl often set up their own clubs like the baker’s guild. Upon the death of one o fthe members, the club would play for a funeral and provide mouners to ensure the deceased were not forgotten. IN large groups they may be buried in a club tomb/burial ground
what would happen with the prep of the body-Rome?
- capture the moment of death by a relative capturing the last breath with a quiz
- this woudl be done ceremonially afterwards if the person was alone\
- the body was washed, perfumed, dressed in finest clothes
- coin places in moice - charon
- if the body was wealthy it would be placed in the atrium for 8 days and f + f would pay respects.
- the women od the house would also lament by bearting their chests
what is the atrium?
the main room of thr Roman domus where teh family recieved friends and clients
how long was the body in the atrium for (roman)>
8 days
what happened in the funery proession in Rome
- 8 days after death
- it would involve a variety of people including flute, and horn player, deceased’s familt, slaves, freedmen
- memebers of family woudl wear wax funery masks of the family’s ancestors
- this woudl symbolise acceptance of the deceased into the afterlife by their ancestory
- if a family was wealthy and small then they woudl pay for professional mouners to join the procession, mourning and lamenting the dad
- wealthy families would also pay for actors to mimic the deceased as if they were in life
what is a funery mask?
a mask made by placing wax on the deceased’s face to take their image. When it ws dry, tiwwas taken off and stored int he family shrine
how would they bury the body in Rome?
- either cremated/buried
- same customs as greek bbural
- familes’ wealth determined the sixe of the tomb
- a wealthy person could expect to be buried in the family tomb or an individual monument
- the Romans built their tombs that ran into the town - made sure they stand out
- people avoided uniformity so their tomb would stand out.
- the super rich woudl also place their dead in the elaborately csrved sarcophagi - containing mythological battles and heroes
what would happen after the burial? rome-respect
a marble bust woudl be made and placed in the house. THe romans believed that they turned into Manes. THey needed to be fed and the deceased’s family were expected to leave food and wine offerings at their tomb
what is ‘manes’?
meaning ‘deified ancestoers’, these were the spirits of the dead in the Roman world
what is Parentalia?
took place over 9 days between 13th to 21st February
- no amrrying, temples closed, no buiness
- blood sacrifice by vestal virgins on Day 1
- a domestic festival, one centered on family rather than state
- offerings were taken to the tomb on day 1
- pn the 9th day - would be meet and share a meal in the home
this gave them an oppurtunity to undo any wrongs that had taken place
what was lemuria?
- roman festival
- held over 3 days in May 9th, 11th, 13th
- also no marriages, temples closed etc
- aimed ot honour the fmiliy’s deceased ancestors, the Lemuria was held to ward off the evil spirits
- TO APPEASE RESTLESS SPIRITS
what was more solemn? Anthesteria or Genesia?t
Genesia.
why were blood sacrifices done at genesis?
o nourish the dead
what woudl they do to the stele at genesia?
decorated with ribbons
how was Antheseria a party?
day 1 - dead rise to roam the world
day 2 - the drinking contrst as ancestor’s grave
- libations to hermes?? - fun?
- blood from pregious year opened
what happened on the 9th day of parentalia?
family, meal including chance to resolve proplems - banquet festival and domestic
what is Appian way?
the earliest and strategically most important Roman roads of the ancient republic. - qhere tombs were
what is the archimimus?
The chief jester or mimic who would imitate the dead person as part of ancient Roman funeral processions
